Sophie Wessex news: Does THIS mean Sophie is taking on bigger role in Royal Family?

SOPHIE, Countess of Wessex has been working quietly behind the scenes during the COVID-19 pandemic. But according to one royal expert, Sophie is "exactly what the Royal Family needs" at the current time.

We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

After Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their senior royal roles in January, many royal experts wondered if Sophie would step up and take on a bigger role within the family. During the coronavirus pandemic, Sophie has proved herself ready for the challenge, completing numerous engagements on behalf of the Royal Family.

Trending

Earlier this year, Prince Charles opened the NHS Nightingale Hospital in London via video link.

This week Sophie took on the same responsibility, officially opening the new NHS Nightingale Hospital in Sunderland.

The move could be seen to demonstrate the Royal Family’s trust in Sophie to handle important engagements.

READ MORE

Royal expert and editor of Majesty magazine Ingrid Seward told CBC News Sophie is “exactly what the Royal Family needs”, and that she approaches her royal role in an “unfussy way”.

Ms Seward said: “Sophie does everything very quietly, partly because the media don't follow her obsessively as they do with William and Catherine and partly because the things she does aren't necessarily very glamorous.”

Pictures shared on the Royal Family Instagram account show Sophie putting supplies together for food packages.

Sophie Wessex news: The Queen is known to enjoy Sophie's company (Image: GETTY)

The caption read: “Thank you to every single volunteer who is continuing to support their communities and the NHS, whether that be through the #NHSVolunteerResponders, preparing and donating items for care and food packages, or supporting vulnerable members of the community.

“The Countess has joined millions of people, up and down the country, who are volunteering their time to support the NHS, charitable initiatives and support vulnerable people in their communities. Thank you all.”

The Queen is known among royal experts to have a soft spot for her daughter-in-law Sophie, and her fondness may be part of the reason why Sophie seems to be taking on a more active royal role in recent months.

READ MORE

Sophie married the Queen’s youngest son, Prince Edward, in 1999, and the couple have two children together.

Royal expert and author Robert Jobson told the Telegraph: “She’s very much the Queen’s favourite, and you’ll notice that whenever there is a family holiday or gathering, Sophie and Edward often stay a while longer than the rest.”

The pair are often snapped attending church together while the Wessexes visit Sandringham at Christmas.

A former royal equerry told the Sun the Queen finds Sophie’s presence “soothing”.

Sophie Wessex news: Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward on their wedding day in 1999 (Image: GETTY)